Stop 22

Metro’s office is here, on the right. The regional governmental agency coordinates activities of multiple counties. It is the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States. Metro is governed by a council president elected region-wide, currently Tom Hughes, and six councilors who are elected by district.

The Loop Project cost about $148.27 million, with $75 million provided by the Federal Government, $15.50 million from a local improvement district, $27.68 from the Portland Development Commission, $3.62 million from regional funds, $6.11 million from SDC/other City funds and $.36 million from stimulus funds. Some $20 million is from State lottery funds which will pay for the streetcars manufactured locally by United Streetcar a subsidiary from Oregon Iron Works.

Metro’s Research Center provides state-of-the-art mapping, spatial analysis, regional economic analysis, and demographic information. MetroMap shows map-based information about a location of your choice. View parcel and tax assessment information, zoning, political boundaries, planning information, flood plain and special districts. Portlandmaps.com is an information service by The City of Portland.

Streetcar supporters say they play a vital role in the city’s development. Portland Mayor Sam Adams argues that it would be foolish to give up on it, given the federal money available (half the streetcar extension was funded by the feds), the billions in redevelopment it’s prompted (which even critics acknowledge) and the support it’s given to the modern streetcar industry. United Streetcar, based in suburban Portland, is taking orders from transit agencies across the country.

“The critics here have to confront the reality — the positive reality — that transit has had,” Adams says.